Two state senators are competing to make updates to the state's natural gas drilling laws.

Sen. Tom Niehaus, who introduced the 2004 law that revoked cities' rights to regulate drilling, is working with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Ohio Oil & Gas Association on one bill, which would not end mandatory "pooling" of landowners or restore home rule.

That bill calls for more notification to neighbors, though it does not allow public input in the permit process. It lengthens the time for granting permits; allows for special permit conditions; requires landscaping around new wells to be completed more quickly; mandates noise mitigation; requires more insurance; limits mandatory pooling requests to five per company per year; and expands the costs and types of fees, which already are higher for urban wells than for rural wells.

It also would address violations and fines, said Natural Resources Department permitting manager Mike McCormac.

Grendell's bill also would require public hearings as part of the permit process; give municipalities control over residential drilling, with some limits; increase the 100-foot setback to 3,000 feet; limit burning off excess gas; add public representatives to the Technical Advisory Council; and increase fees.

The gas industry donated thousands of dollars to 55 political action committees last year. It opposes Grendell's bill, which even Grendell acknowledges is unlikely to pass.

But like the Natural Resources Department, Grendell believes some new regulations will pass this year.